Remploy strike suspended as unions plan new focus on Paralympics

Unions campaigning for thousands of disabled workers facing redundancy with the closure of 54 Remploy factories have suspended strike action planned for next Monday (6 August).

Unions are not ruling out further industrial action in their campaign for improved redundancy terms for the 2,800 workers, but say they intend to ‘change tack’ in the coming weeks leading up to the Paralympics later this month.

One official told UnionNews:”Of course, we all celebrate the achievements of disabled athletes competing in the Paralympics, but we want to use the games to highlight the fact that hundreds of disabled workers are being made redundant by this government.”

Almost 80% of GMB members at Remploy voted in favour of strike action against the closure plan.

Negotiators have called for ministers to offer improved redundancy terms to workers at the threatened factories and say they are ‘seeking clarity’ from the government over whether the rights and conditions of existing staff will be protected if their factory is taken over by a new employer.

You can watch our film report on the second day of strike action by Remploy workers here:

and you can watch a film report on the blockade in April of the DWP offices here: